Estonia bars Russian and Belarusian athletes amid wider entry restrictions

Estonia has said it will not allow Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete on its territory because of the continuing war in Ukraine, BBC Sport reported. The decision follows similar announcements by Norway, Finland and Canada, adding another national restriction as international sports bodies reconsider the participation of competitors from the two countries.

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According to the BBC report by sports editor Dan Roan, Estonia's government has written to the International Ski Federation, known as FIS, arguing that admitting those athletes would weaken its support for Ukraine and create an opportunity for propaganda. In September, FIS eased its eligibility requirements so that Russian and Belarusian competitors could enter its events by signing a neutrality declaration, replacing more extensive checks concerning military links.

The revised FIS arrangements still limit participation to individual events and prohibit national flags, anthems and uniforms. But eligibility does not guarantee entry to a host country. In a statement to BBC Sport, the federation said national governments retain control over visas and admission, and that FIS is not responsible when an eligible athlete is refused permission to enter. It also said it was supporting athletes, national associations and organisers through the situation.

The distinction has immediate implications for competitions in northern Europe. Norway, which is preparing to stage cross-country skiing World Cup competition next month, and Finland both announced on Thursday that they would block visas for Russian athletes. Finland is due to host the figure skating world championships in March. The International Skating Union said it was seeking clarification from Finnish officials and maintained that athletes should not be penalised for government actions.

Canada has meanwhile told its hockey authorities that Russians will not receive visas to play in next month's World Junior Championship while the war continues, the BBC reported. That position also covers Russians already playing for Canadian teams. It follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling overturning the International Ice Hockey Federation's ban on Russia, after the court found insufficient evidence for the federation's safety and security arguments.

International federations remain divided. World Athletics has maintained its complete ban, while World Gymnastics, World Aquatics and World Boxing have removed restrictions on Russian competitors. The International Olympic Committee provisionally reinstated Russia in July, but individual federations can continue to set their own eligibility requirements. Estonia's announcement adds a separate host-country barrier to that uneven sporting landscape.